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katasaurus's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
miss__manga__'s review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Why the hell did Miss Honey trauma dump on Matilda??? And then Matilda just blurts out “did she beat you?” What on earth? Loved the narration but I really don’t understand this book and don’t like it at all!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
indigo_book_dragon's review
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The book starts lighthearted with pranks that cause some discomfort but not too much bodily harm. When you look past the cartoonishly extreme reactions, it is a sad story of Matilda’s situation with some darker things left unsaid.
However, it ends on a hopeful note. Though there isn’t much character growth, and Matilda is not the best role model for young children, it’s a mostly light story with happy ending.
However, it ends on a hopeful note. Though there isn’t much character growth, and Matilda is not the best role model for young children, it’s a mostly light story with happy ending.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse
ricksilva's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Child genius Matilda figures out how to take revenge on her callous and incompetent parents through a series of pranks. Eventually, she finds herself attending a school ruled by the iron fist of Olympic-hammer-thrower-turned-headmistress Miss Trunchbull.
But when she discovers that the powers of her mind have continued to grow, Matilda makes a plan to save her beloved teacher from the headmistress' abuse.
This story worked best in its serious moments, with the best characters being the figures who showed kindness toward Matilda, especially classroom teacher Miss Honey. The author uses the book to convey his love of literary classics through they eyes of Matilda, always hungry for beautiful words and stories. The conversation between Matilda and Miss Honey where Miss Honey's abusive childhood comes up is handled gently but with powerful emotion.
When the book tries to be silly, it does not do as well, although the lighter bits are definitely needed for the overall balance of tone. Unfortunately, the various pranks played by Matilda and others are neither imaginative nor funny, and the over-the-top cartoonish violence of Miss Trunchbull is always just on the line between ridiculous and uncomfortable.
Some of the plot twists are very abrupt, and while I appreciate the effort of getting a surprisingly complex plot into such a short book, the effect in a bit jarring, and the book seems to be having a lot of trouble figuring out what it wants to be.
But when she discovers that the powers of her mind have continued to grow, Matilda makes a plan to save her beloved teacher from the headmistress' abuse.
This story worked best in its serious moments, with the best characters being the figures who showed kindness toward Matilda, especially classroom teacher Miss Honey. The author uses the book to convey his love of literary classics through they eyes of Matilda, always hungry for beautiful words and stories. The conversation between Matilda and Miss Honey where Miss Honey's abusive childhood comes up is handled gently but with powerful emotion.
When the book tries to be silly, it does not do as well, although the lighter bits are definitely needed for the overall balance of tone. Unfortunately, the various pranks played by Matilda and others are neither imaginative nor funny, and the over-the-top cartoonish violence of Miss Trunchbull is always just on the line between ridiculous and uncomfortable.
Some of the plot twists are very abrupt, and while I appreciate the effort of getting a surprisingly complex plot into such a short book, the effect in a bit jarring, and the book seems to be having a lot of trouble figuring out what it wants to be.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent
emisbooks's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide
julia_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Violence
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